12.
(
}
12
202
Never=
accommodation for sleeping or adequate protection against the weather. Newly shelf, the expense of maintaining the "Victoria", however useful and suitable, seems too great for the meager resources of the Colony, and therefore this Government must be content to make the best of that which is less suitable.
13.
able is cheaper.
The Victoria has of late been much used for sailing round the Island and visiting the various Chinese Revenue Stations in the neighborhood. There is little doubt but that her frequent cruises and the occasional interchange of friendly communication with the better class of Chinese Officials have contributed to diminish the unwarrantable molestation of fair traders in our neighborhood so frequently resorted to for purposes of squeezing by the Canton Customs, and Salt Cruisers. The Victoria has also increased, by her cruises, the general protection of commerce against attacks by boats from the Mainland, which of late have been more frequent than during the previous 2 years. In addition, she has enabled the Harbor Master and his Staff to maintain a very complete, because leisurely, supervision of the various Harbor Stations established round...
XXV